Comments on: Is it true you tell me we’re failing to see that we were dreaming of a lifestyle http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/ Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:35:49 +1000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Walk with your credit card in the air | A Free Man http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7566 Walk with your credit card in the air | A Free Man Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:02:18 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7566 [...] get my head around. I shan’t leave you in the lurch, though. You may remember that last week I wrote what I thought was a pretty innocuous post that set off a bit of a tussle by making cultural comparisons between my new home and my [...] [...] get my head around. I shan’t leave you in the lurch, though. You may remember that last week I wrote what I thought was a pretty innocuous post that set off a bit of a tussle by making cultural comparisons between my new home and my [...]

]]> By: admin http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7461 admin Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:47:52 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7461 Kitty - The thing is that I want Australia to be like Australia here. That was kind of the original point of this post - disappointment that it is so American-ized here. No hard feelings, I hope, I'm always amazed that to me a seemingly innocuous post can get people all fired up! We Be Toys - Yeah, that was my biggest disappointment when I got here - fucking Wal-Mart (they call it Big W here, but it's Wal-Mart). You just can't get away. They had it in Britain as well. Kitty – The thing is that I want Australia to be like Australia here. That was kind of the original point of this post – disappointment that it is so American-ized here. No hard feelings, I hope, I’m always amazed that to me a seemingly innocuous post can get people all fired up!

We Be Toys – Yeah, that was my biggest disappointment when I got here – fucking Wal-Mart (they call it Big W here, but it’s Wal-Mart). You just can’t get away. They had it in Britain as well.

]]> By: we_be_toys http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7453 we_be_toys Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:28:08 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7453 I met some American tourists in Wales a few years back, and frankly, I was ashamed to be lumped in with them. they were everything you said about Ugly Americans, and I couldn't have felt less connected to them. I think it's heinous that Walmart and McDonalds have gotten a toehold in so many parts of the world, including my own town, but unless people refuse to shop there, they aren't going to stop. Great comments on this post! I met some American tourists in Wales a few years back, and frankly, I was ashamed to be lumped in with them. they were everything you said about Ugly Americans, and I couldn’t have felt less connected to them.
I think it’s heinous that Walmart and McDonalds have gotten a toehold in so many parts of the world, including my own town, but unless people refuse to shop there, they aren’t going to stop.

Great comments on this post!

]]> By: kitty http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7438 kitty Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:05:45 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7438 well, in Dr O'C in my defence, I don't think I did judge the US. I just said I don't want Australia to be like America. I don't. I don't want Australia to be like France either. Or Vietnam, or Argentina. If I think Australia is becoming like France I'll move to China too (or maybe America, who knows). I want Australia to be Australian. I don't want to drink at Starbucks, I want an Australian to make my coffee - or whatever. OK, we're a bit like Britain, but a huge percentage of us are British, and in a couple of centuries when the ethnic mix is more broad that may change. Then we could have our own identity. It's probably our own fault that we're too laidback to find our own identity we nick it/have it imposed on us/a bit of both by another, more powerful country. I can see my country become more like another all the time, and I think it's sad that we're not proud of who we are. And of course there's good and bad everywhere. Having said I loved the UK I was refused service on more than one occasion because of my accent, but they were the stupid minority. So if any Americans out there think I was having a go at them, I humbly apologise, it was not my intention what-so-ever...... well, in Dr O’C in my defence, I don’t think I did judge the US. I just said I don’t want Australia to be like America. I don’t. I don’t want Australia to be like France either. Or Vietnam, or Argentina. If I think Australia is becoming like France I’ll move to China too (or maybe America, who knows). I want Australia to be Australian. I don’t want to drink at Starbucks, I want an Australian to make my coffee – or whatever. OK, we’re a bit like Britain, but a huge percentage of us are British, and in a couple of centuries when the ethnic mix is more broad that may change. Then we could have our own identity. It’s probably our own fault that we’re too laidback to find our own identity we nick it/have it imposed on us/a bit of both by another, more powerful country. I can see my country become more like another all the time, and I think it’s sad that we’re not proud of who we are.

And of course there’s good and bad everywhere. Having said I loved the UK I was refused service on more than one occasion because of my accent, but they were the stupid minority.

So if any Americans out there think I was having a go at them, I humbly apologise, it was not my intention what-so-ever……

]]> By: And all the fallen leaves filling up shopping bags | A Free Man http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7431 And all the fallen leaves filling up shopping bags | A Free Man Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:42:34 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7431 [...] sledgehammer-as-diplomacy has alienated many of our allies. But it runs deeper than that. If you read the comments on my last post, a lot of non-Americans recoil at the spread of American culture and consumerism. This new brand of [...] [...] sledgehammer-as-diplomacy has alienated many of our allies. But it runs deeper than that. If you read the comments on my last post, a lot of non-Americans recoil at the spread of American culture and consumerism. This new brand of [...]

]]> By: admin http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7430 admin Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:33:45 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7430 You know, RunsDeep, I would really expect better punctuation and capitalization from an Oxford Old Boy. As for the suburbia in Oz - does my fucking head in. That's one of the things I did NOT miss from the States. Oh well, them's the breaks. You know, RunsDeep, I would really expect better punctuation and capitalization from an Oxford Old Boy.

As for the suburbia in Oz – does my fucking head in. That’s one of the things I did NOT miss from the States. Oh well, them’s the breaks.

]]> By: runsdeep http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7429 runsdeep Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:20:17 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7429 Do we prefer faceless, endless identikit urban sprawl to "claustrophobic British cities"? If you ask me, that is the single most disappointing thing about Australia. True, they have the space, and a wonderful space it is, but everything's dependent on the car and every suburb looks the same. I had expected it though. As for the people, I have not met a great varied number, as they have either all been family members or like-minded uni folk/students... but they're generally very open and friendly. A hint of the american "have a nice day" in shops and the like (which is ok, but don't patronise me). Oh, and you can still get some UK food in the supermarkets. Doubt that's doable in USA. Do we prefer faceless, endless identikit urban sprawl to “claustrophobic British cities”? If you ask me, that is the single most disappointing thing about Australia. True, they have the space, and a wonderful space it is, but everything’s dependent on the car and every suburb looks the same. I had expected it though.

As for the people, I have not met a great varied number, as they have either all been family members or like-minded uni folk/students… but they’re generally very open and friendly. A hint of the american “have a nice day” in shops and the like (which is ok, but don’t patronise me). Oh, and you can still get some UK food in the supermarkets. Doubt that’s doable in USA.

]]> By: Agnes http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7427 Agnes Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:39:57 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7427 "Just like Australians shouldn’t be judged by Crocodile Dundee, Steve Irwin and throw another shrimp on the barbie type comments" Yes!!! Things sure are heating up in here... “Just like Australians shouldn’t be judged by Crocodile Dundee, Steve Irwin and throw another shrimp on the barbie type comments”

Yes!!!

Things sure are heating up in here…

]]> By: admin http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7426 admin Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:54:44 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7426 But you stole one of my arguments for a post I'm working on! But you stole one of my arguments for a post I’m working on!

]]> By: admin http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-7425 admin Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:53:37 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2009/01/06/is-it-true-you-tell-me-were-failing-to-see-that-we-were-dreaming-of-a-lifestyle/#comment-7425 Wow, strange to see Dr. O'C defending the States! I think you're like me, willing to slag off the U.S. and Americans based on our own experience, but we get riled up when someone else does it! Wow, strange to see Dr. O’C defending the States! I think you’re like me, willing to slag off the U.S. and Americans based on our own experience, but we get riled up when someone else does it!

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